Nightmare disorder

Nightmare disorder
Nightmare disorder is also called dream anxiety attack. Most patients with nightmare disorder are children.

Nightmare disorder is a parasomnia in which the patient is repeatedly awakened by frightening dreams. Approximately 10-50% of children between three and five years old have nightmares.

Two common sleep disorders under the parasomnias category are nightmare disorders and sleep terror disorders. Nightmare disorders are quite common in children and can affect up to 50% of children.

Moore DP, Jefferson JW. Nightmare disorder. In: Moore DP, Jefferson JW, eds. Handbook of Medical Psychiatry. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa:Mosby Elsevier;2004:chap 123.

Parasomnias involve unusual behaviors or body events associated with sleep. These include:
nightmare disorders, which involve frightening dreams
sleep terrors, which involve abrupt awakening and intense fear
sleepwalking ...

See also: Sleep Disorders, Sleep disorder, Anxiety, Nightmares, Stress